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Here's the latest round of local news clips for each race:
CA-11: Democrat Jerry McNerney is up 548 votes, but tens of thousands of mail-in and provisional ballots are still to be counted. The Stockton Record: "McNerney's razor-thin margin is subject to change and he could ultimately lose to Republican challenger David Harmer. Of the 172,000-plus votes cast in a district stretching across four counties, McNerney initially had a 121-vote edge, a margin well south of 1 percentage point. Nobody is calling for a recount, yet. That's because there are tens of thousands of ballots yet to be counted, most of them mail-in ballots. In addition, there are thousands of provisional ballots, votes cast in cases such as when a first-time voter cannot provide identification." The San Jose Mercury-News: "Democratic Rep. Jerry McNerney inched his way toward re-election as updated counts Friday showed him with a slim 548-vote lead over opponent and GOP nominee David Harmer. But the outcome is still a long way from settled. The gap represents a tiny 0.3 percentage points of the 176,108 votes counted in the 11th Congressional District, which remains one of nine House races nationwide still too close to call. The four county elections offices within the 11th District are plowing through the uncounted mail-in and provisional ballots but thousands of votes remain to be processed."
CA-20: Andy Vidak (R), a cherry farms, leads incumbent Jim Costa (D) by 648 votes. The Fresno Bee: "After Tuesday's election, many political watchers believed that absentee and provisional ballots left to be counted in Fresno and Kern counties, where Costa beat Vidak overwhelmingly, would go to the incumbent. In Kings County, where Vidak demolished Costa, few ballots remain uncounted. ... About 50,000 to 70,000 absentee and provisional ballots still must be counted in Fresno County, Clerk Victor Salazar said Friday. ... Counties have until Nov. 30 to certify election results. The Fresno County elections office will update vote counts each Wednesday and Friday until the election is certified."
IL-8: Republican Joe Walsh leads by 365 votes over incumbent Melissa Bean (D). Bean picked up some votes from absentee ballots in Cook County. The Chicago Tribune: "Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean continued to chip away at Republican challenger Joe Walsh's lead during absentee vote counting Friday, with her spokesman saying she could make further gains, even in areas Walsh dominated on election night. Bean picked up 15 more votes on Walsh, trimming his lead in the 8th District to 350 votes out of more than 200,000 cast. Walsh could take a healthy boost from absentee ballots in Lake and McHenry counties if those votes mirror Election Day tallies when they are added to the total on Nov. 16, the last day absentee ballots can be received. ... Hundreds of ballots remain unaccounted for in Cook County, while Lake County will add more than 500 votes to the total and McHenry County will likely add a few dozen more, according to election authorities. Bean's gains have come from absentee vote counting in Cook County, where valid absentee ballots will continue to be counted in coming days."
KY-6: County officials affirmed Ben Chandler's (D) lead. The Lexington Herald-Leader: "U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Versailles, leads Republican Andy Barr by 649 votes, according to official vote totals from all 16 counties in the 6th Congressional District. The last of the county totals, which have been certified by county clerks but have not yet been given the final stamp of approval by the Kentucky Board of Elections, were submitted to the secretary of state's office Friday. The official count is Chandler with 119,812 votes and Barr with 119,163 votes, said Les Fugate, spokesman for the secretary of state." A recanvass will take place Nov. 12. "The state Board of Elections is scheduled to certify the vote Nov. 22."
NY-1 (Suffolk County, Long Island): After a voting machine recanvass, Randy Altschuler (R) has taken over the lead from incumbent Tim Bishop (D). "Altschuler leads Bishop, a Democrat, by about 400 votes, both campaigns said, citing data from the Suffolk County Board of Elections. That represents a swing of almost 4,000 votes because Bishop was ahead by 3,461 earlier this week," Newsday (Long Island) reports.
NY-25: Tea Party-backed Ann Marie Buerkle (R) leads Dann Maffei (D) by 684 votes. The Syracuse Post-Standard: "A routine audit and recanvassing will begin next week in all four counties before absentee and provisional ballots are opened. Election officials say it could be two weeks or more before a winner is determined."
TX-27: Solomon Ortiz (D) trails by 799 792 votes with all the votes in. He's going to request a recount. KRGV-TV: "Ortiz says there were a number of irregularities in the election. The incumbent Democrat is asking for a manual recount of the votes." AP: "Under Texas rules, he'll have to pay for the re-count unless it affects the election's final outcome." The Corpus Christi Caller: "U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz will not have the votes necessary to overtake Congressman-elect Blake Farenthold after all provisional and overseas ballots are counted in the 27th District. As many as 736 ballots remain uncounted." [UPDATE: The lead is now 792.]
VA-11: Gerry Connolly (D) claimed victory for a narrow win. By the way, he was hospitalized for an undisclosed condition. "As of Friday afternoon, Connolly led Oakton businessman Keith Fimian (R) by 968 votes, according to the Virginia State Board of Elections site. Connolly led by 487 votes Tuesday night, and that number steadily grew as the week progressed and more ballots were counted," the Washington Post reports, adding, "As his reelection race remained unresolved, Connolly was hospitalized for a condition his office would not disclose. 'Congressman Connolly visited his doctor for a checkup earlier this week, and his doctor recommended he be hospitalized for further testing,' [Campaign Manager James] Walkinshaw said. 'The details are a private matter, but he is doing well and will be heading home this weekend. He expects to be back to work for the people of Northern Virginia on Monday.'"
WA-2: Rick Larsen (D) leads by 3,841 votes, a slight loss of votes from 4,100 after counting in Snohomish County. The (Everett) Herald: "Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen seems almost certain of re-election Saturday night after another tally of ballots gave him his largest lead yet over Republican challenger John Koster."
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I am sure all of you out there have been getting your new from the credit card companies reducing the amount they will be charging you. But I would not get used to it, now that we have republicans in control, it is fair game to screw the middle class again.
I don't know how that will be possible, but maybe you should pay in cash instead of borrowing money ie...credit cards...but living in your means probably doesn't mean anything anymore, the new American Dream-run up debt and file for bankruptcy and let someone pay for it.
Paul. You are one smug pumpous drip.
Amen, Patrick- especially when you consider, all the advice says get a credit card or two, and USE THEM so as to establish your credit. And, in the age of the web, how do you send cash over the internet for, say an airline ticket or that Obama Chia Pet that is in such wonderful taste again this year?
Why should the American People be held to a standard OTHER than their Republican Leadership, Paul-Florida? I mean the debt we face is something like 80% the direct responsibility of the Republican Party. Or do you take ownership and responsibility for that? I guess that all happened with someone else's bootstraps. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
credit card companies screwed me under democratic congress. guess you just dont know who to trust. and i have gotten rid of all of mine. cant trust them.
LOL, OK Patrick, you think so and I won't even correct you on "pump", my point is that you're comparing credit cards practices to a certain party with is asinine. Only 92 Congressmen/women voted against it. Nice try to pin it on a certain party. If you don't pay your bill they're going to screw you either way you look at it. The Credit Card Reform is a good idea, but it's because of foolish people not knowing what they were getting into. With this act there's also a down side too. Here's a good link
http://knowledgebase.findlaw.com/kb/2010/Jan/59137.html
Clara,
Would you like to provide the facts to your statement or is this your opinion? What standards are you talking about? You know what responsibility I take?-My own and the actions of my kids. If you need Government to protect you in a form of finanical responsibility that is a pretty sad thing. Sorry Clara my voting card say NPA, I don't belong to a political party, I can do the research and think for myself instead of a political party telling me what to do.
"I mean the debt we face is something like 80% the direct responsibility of the Republican Party"
Drive-by-For one thing PayPal is a good source of sending funds over the net. As for Airlines, I do have one card, an AMEX just for travel. I travel 14-20 days out of the month, so one is needed. But when you have people with 4-5-10-12 credit cards and they max them out, then what? Ask Uncle Sugar for a break? A second chance? If you get that chia pet, I would save it, it might be a collector item
Patrick, Salt Lake City. Yes, the letters are in the mail, and the words are in plain English not legal jargon. Thank you President Obama and Congressional democrats for making credit card companies be fair and honest with those who use them.
Paul, FL. Never assume that because a person uses a credit card it automatically means they don't live within their means. Are their irresponsible people, of course, but my guess is there as many republicans as there are democrats who dug holes for themselves. I use mine for on-line purchases and for convenience when shopping. Sure beats carrying around a lot of cash or writing a half dozen checks. As for the American dream, it was the GOP/TP who ran up America's credit card debt first with Ronald Reagan and the final blow was George W. Bush. When the republicans can prove they are sincere about fiscal responsibility and not just a lot of talk, I will listen but likely pigs will fly before either happens.
Jody,
You're 100% correct, Credit card abuse is not a R or D thing. But I will say pushing people to get home loan that don't qualify pretty much is. Barney Frank comes to mind. Living in our own means is important. How people think spending money to get out of debt makes sense totally blows my mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_Reinvestment_Act#Regulatory_changes_2007
Yes W. starting this train, but Obama is speeding it up. This is were we are at now, (below comment) Both believe in Keynesian economics.
"Keynesian economists believe that adding to profits and incomes during boom cycles through tax cuts, and removing income and profits from the economy through cuts in spending and/or increased taxes during downturns, tends to exacerbate the negative effects of the business cycle. This effect is especially pronounced when the government controls a large fraction of the economy, and is therefore one reason fiscal conservatives advocate a much smaller government."
What people don't understand is that the money collected from taxes is the PEOPLE'S money, not the government's money. We should have a say on where it goes.
"What people don't understand is that the money collected from taxes is the PEOPLE'S money, not the government's money. We should have a say on where it goes."
I agree, Paul, and I say "no spending MY money to kill innocent Iraqis or others".
Drive-by,
I agree and when we do that we should stop all welfare and entitlements and bail outs. Sounds good to me.
Me, I'm confused (as usual).
I keep seeing people post about how far Fox is ahead of all the other media outlets COMBINED.
Where, then, does this 'liberal media' catch phrase come from? Could it be one of those phrases like 'failed' stimulus? You know- let's keep it out there, and soon everyone will believe it.
Which is it, really? Liberal Media, or Fox Rules? Who can help me with this one??
silly wabbit, buzz, the Media Demon is a creation of the Faux Freaks to control their mindless subjects. Sadly, it is apparently working for them. PS. Fox is only ahead of the cable shows. Not the regular programming on CBS, NBC or ABC. Much to Rupert's dismay. Funny how when you concentrate the whacko's in ONE location,...they can run their numbers up; while Average Americans seek their news from reliable sources (or at least MULTIPLE sources).
You guys have so lost the thread of the article. By the way, what happened to AZ-8, which your lead said was undecided? I think you substituted in the Long Island district.
The thread of the article is that the Republicans will have between 243 and 245 seats and the Dems will have between 190 and 192 seats. In other words, the Republican majority is LESS than the majority the Dems had when the Republicans voted almost 100% AGAINST everything the Dems proposed. (Dems had 255 seats before this most recent election.) SO, if the Republicans start acting like Gerald Ford or Everett Dirksen, the Democrats should rush to embrace many of their reasonable proposals. But, if the Jim Demint and Eric Cantor philosophy pervades, Democrats should just vote against everything. The Democrats in the Senate should then just kill everything the House passes. That is our system now - brought to you by Mitch McConnell, Eric Cantor, and many others in the Republican Party.